RAW WATER WASHDOWN

[finntastic]

Has anyone installed washdown system? Ins and outs?

[Franco]

Got one in my new boat and love it. Things to consider - you gotta drill a hole in a perfectly good boat to let water in, I would use a bronze thru hull with a strainer, and a good ball valve - Have a way to drain the cockpit, if your creative, it can be used to supply water to a live bait well. If ya got room add it, you'll use it.

[phatdaddy]

Finntastic, I have a raw water pump that feeds the live well that I can use as a washdown. It is a 750gph which gives you plenty of volume, but no pressure. I also installed a fresh water system with a shurflo freshwater pump wth the automaic pressure switch. I mounted 2 4' pieces of 3"PVC in the gunnells below the rod holder inserts for storage tanks and put the pump in the bilge. That gives you a flooded suction so priming is not a problem. The big drawback is the capacity is only about 6 gallons. Not a lot, but it is sure nice to wash the salt off.

[finntastic]

Phatdaddy, any pics, sounds like a great idea? Thanks!

[phatdaddy]

Sorry, I am digitally challenged. Macojoe walked me through posting pics, but my camera flash card won't load to my computer. I'll keep trying.

[reelapeelin]

Like the PVC pipe storage idea... 8)...GREAT STUFF...

[phatdaddy]

RAP. I install irrigation systems so Ihave a lot of scrap to play with, it is good stuff. I mainly did it because I could not think of a good place to put a tank and it not be in the way. If I ever have to pull the cap, I want to put 2 4" pipes in the area between the outside stringers. Five gallons is not much to play with.

[CT_V-20]

finn, i've got a raw water washdown system. it was installed last season. i'll take some pictures next time i'm on the boat (should be every weekend now since launch is just a month away). intake is just starboard of the centerline a few inches ahead of the transom. definately use brass for the seacock if you keep the boat in the water. my hose is hooked up just to stern of the starboard fish box and i put a hanger for the nozzle into the wood frame of the fish box. i used one of those coiled hoses. it's terrific for cleaning up the bait table and deck. the kids use it when we're rafted up to squirt their friends.